Island



guitar tans fitment lgffirz.

THOMAS L. REED, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, "ASSIGNCR TO THE ATLANTIC TUBING COMPANY, OF THE SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 71,787, dated Deccan-berg, I867; c'mt-edated November 21, 1867.

IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR PREdERVING ANIMAL INTESTINES.

fillgr Sit-nah mam trim that artists eat an making and at it: amt.

W TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, TJiOMAs L. REED, Of the city and county of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and improved Composition for Preserving Animal Intestines'and membraneous tissues in a natural, moist condition; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

In a previous patent, granted to David K. l 'Ioxsie and myself, September 27. 1864, and numbered 44,425, a mcthodis described of preserving or curing animal intestines, and utilizing the same in the manufacture of flexible gas-tubing, to render the same impervious to illuminating-gas, or, in other words, gas-tight. Also, in another patent, granted subsequently, to said Hoxsie and myself, to wit, on the 21st day of November, A. D. 1865, and numbered 51,052, a description is recited of a means for preserving the intestine, so cured and utilized, in it'snaturally moist condition by means of a compound of glycerine and glue, in suitable proportion, properly prepared and applied. i The invention in this instance relates to the same subject, and is calculated to subserve the same purpose as that last mentioned, that is to say, to prevent the membrane from becoming dryandhusky, and in consequence liable to crack and permit the gash to escape, as it would be likely to do from the bending and other usage to which this article is'subjeoted; and my present invention consists of other compounds, with a base of glycerine, which possess the non-drying properties of g'lycerine and gluein a more eminent degree, and which, besides, are cheaper, and on some accounts are better adapted to the purpose intended.

These compounds, and that of glycerine and glue as well, contribute nothing of an impervious character to the intestine or to the article of tubing wherein the intestine is used for that purpose. On the contrary, the

imperviousness is wholly conceded to the membrane-as a natural property of its own, which is perfectas com pared with any simply artificial means, and which it is the ofiice only of the said compound to maintain in all its natural perfection in this new sphere of usefulness. v i

Thematerial fromwhich this moistcning effect is mainly derived is glycerine, but owing to its subtle nature, it cannot bereta'ined next to the intestine unless it is combined withsomdmaterial which will give it 7 consistency the more like paste or jelly,'and less like oil and it was simply for the purpose of imparting to the glycerine the requisite consistency that the article of glue has heretofore combinedtherewith, as above alluded to. But it is found in practice that other substances than glue are better adapted. to preserve intact the desirable moistcning propertiesof the glycerine, while at the same time they are equally instrumental in reducing the same to the proper consistency, besides being familiar and cheaper -commodities, and these are substantially as follows: V

First, glycerine and molasses, equal parts of each mingleil while cold, and afterwards heated to the boiling point, then allowed to cool, when it is fit for use.

Second, glycerine and flour; the flour made into a paste by boiling (1-) one-quarter; by weight of water with the quantity of flour, and min while'warm with the glycerine, equal parts of each.

Third, glycerinc and gum-tragacanthpthe gum dissolved in water in the usual way to make ,a paste; afterwards-sift the paste and mix, cold, with an equal quantity of glycerine.

' Fourth, glycerine and gum-arable; gum-ar'abie dissolved in water t wards'mingled with the glycerine, equal parts of each.

Fifth, a compound, the four" ingredients as follows:'gum-tragacanth, onc poundtgum-arahic, one pound;

1 flour, two poundst glycerine, eight pounds. Mingle together and heat to the boilingppint, 212,

Sixth, glycerine and gum-substitute; add to the gum water enough ,to moistenit, and boil steadily from one (1) to three days-the longer time the better-then add an equal quantity by weight of glyce rine.

Besides the above, I have successfully employed a compound of Irishmoss' and molasses, mixed with glycerine, the moss being first soaked in water, as in its use for culinary purposes, and after it is dissolved mingle'therewith an equal part by weight of molasses, and with thetwo an equal quantity" by weight of glycerine. Heatthe whole to the boiling-point, and whorl cool it is ready for use.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

, The use of glycerine and the several commodities herein enumerated in compound, substantially as andvfor the purpose specified. I r V In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, thistwentieth' day of November, A. D. 186,6.

THOMAS L. REED,

Witnesses: 1

Isaac 'A. BROWNELL, D. K. Hoxsus.

o'jthe consistency of molasses, and after-- 

